The Synthesis Wizard

Lake U City, Base 2.

In the brightly lit workshop, Sunan carefully drew the final line of a pattern on the workbench, consuming the last of the special liquid made from gemstones and metal.

The smooth metal surface was interwoven with intricate patterns, glowing with a strange charm under the light.

"It's done!"

Sunan smiled slightly, gesturing with his hand. The pattern lifted from the table, quickly condensing into a perfectly round metal sphere the size of an egg, landing in his palm.

After examining it, Sunan moved to a shelf in the corner, where hundreds of metal spheres were already neatly divided into three piles.

He placed the sphere on the smallest pile on the left.

Recently, Sunan had been crafting magic tattoo constructs, and these metal spheres represented different levels of them. Once infused with battle energy, they instantly spread across the body, enhancing it.

Magic tattoo constructs are divided into five levels.

Level 1 is the lowest, while level 5 is the highest.

The higher the level, the stronger the enhancement effect, but also the greater the strain on the body.

To use a magic tattoo construct, one must at least have the strength of a knight.

A level 1 construct can enhance a junior knight to near-peak knight or even close to a grand knight level.

A level 2 construct can only be borne by high-ranking knights or above, enhancing them to a junior grand knight level!

A level 3 construct requires a grand knight and can boost their power to a high-ranking grand knight level.

As for level 4 and 5 constructs, only legendary knights can use them, and Sunan hasn't crafted those yet.

The constructs he's made recently range from levels 1 to 3.

Notably, magic tattoo constructs have types based on their enhancement focus.

The most common are agility, strength, and constitution types.

While these constructs can enhance overall physical attributes, including muscle strength, resilience, and reaction speed, each has a focus.

For example, agility-type constructs greatly enhance reaction speed and flexibility more than other aspects.

Strength and constitution types are similar, with their focus evident from their names.

Other types include flight, elemental, and specialty constructs.

In essence, any trait found in enchanted weapons can be transferred to a magic tattoo construct.

Certain spell effects can also be transferred.

The level of a magic tattoo construct typically indicates the number of traits it has.

For instance, singular agility, strength, and constitution types are generally level 1 constructs.

Level 2 constructs add one to two traits on top of level 1.

These could be flight, energy gathering (reducing battle energy consumption), or elemental traits (adding minor elemental damage).

Level 3 constructs add two to three traits on top of level 2.

A grand knight equipped with a level 3 construct is akin to having four to six alchemical-grade magical items, with combat power comparable to a second-level wizard apprentice!

However, higher-level constructs come with higher costs.

A level 1 construct costs around 83 gold coins, nearly double that of a stone golem.

Level 2 constructs cost around 280 gold coins.

Level 3 constructs cost nearly 650 gold coins.

"650 gold coins isn't too expensive."

"To make a high-ranking grand knight-level stone golem requires 25 stone golems, costing nearly 1,100 gold coins. With a 650-gold coin construct and a junior grand knight, you get high-ranking grand knight-level combat power, making it quite cost-effective."

A high-ranking grand knight-level human, with its subjective initiative, is undoubtedly more useful than a stone golem.

"The Dragonheart Knight Academy's first graduates total 500. To equip them all with magic tattoo constructs would cost about 41,000 gold coins."

"Expensive, but it yields 500 peak knights near grand knight-level combat power."

Sunan estimated that 41,000 gold coins could only produce about 230 Twin-Blade Spiders (peak knight-level), less than half the number of academy graduates.

Of course, this doesn't account for the cost of training the students. Factoring that in, the most cost-effective option remains uncertain.

However, given the choice, Sunan preferred 500 knights with subjective initiative.

"Let's first gather 500 sets of level 1 constructs."

Sunan glanced at the pile of constructs on the right, already numbering over 200, still half of what's needed.

"Level 1 constructs will undoubtedly be in the highest demand. Though crafting them is as challenging as crafting enchanted weapons, once the knowledge is organized and added to the base's exchange list, apprentices can take on crafting tasks."

Sunan stretched, crafted three more sets, then left the workshop.

Returning to his study, Sunan reviewed the recent financial reports.

Following the depletion of four mines, three more had recently been exhausted, leaving the Star Alliance with only six mines. Monthly output had significantly dropped, severely shrinking profits.

Sunan had considered crafting another adamantite golem, but recent profits, after deducting construct crafting costs, left little remaining.

Ultimately, more mines are needed.

Especially silver mines, as he's waiting for mithril to craft the simulacrum.

"I wonder how the exploration is going?"

With that thought, Sunan summoned two golems to fetch Karolaina and the Red Widow.

The two women happened to be in Lake U City and arrived shortly after.

"Master!"

Karolaina and the Red Widow greeted him with bows upon entering.

Sunan nodded, then casually asked, "Any progress with the exploration?"

Karolaina stepped forward, "Master, 120 kilometers east lies a vast swamp, inhabited by thousands of subterranean toads and oozes. I've dispatched teams to clear them, but it may take some time."

"150 kilometers north, the exploration team encountered several beholder tribes, with many legendary beholders. I'm devising a plan to handle them."

Beholder tribes?

Sunan's eyes flickered.

In the underground world's biological hierarchy, beholders rank above average.

These creatures are weak in melee but excel in illusions and charming other species for combat.

Knights and grand knights without elemental mastery are easily swayed by beholders' illusions.

Facing multiple beholders usually means death.

In the underground, beholders live in small groups.

They directly control servants and slaves, forming tribes.

Typically, a tribe has one or more legendary beholders.

From these legendary beholders, elder eyes, warlord eyes, broodmother eyes, or abyssal eyes might emerge as mutations.

Such mutants are often formidable, surpassing typical third-level wizard apprentices.

They consolidate beholder tribes, controlling more slaves and servants, eventually forming powerful city-states.

In Sunan's memory, any city-state ruled by beholders in the underground has a beholder mutant as its ruler.

"A beholder tribe isn't too concerning. Illusions and charm don't affect golems. Take more Twin-Blade Spiders and clear them," Sunan instructed.

"Yes, Master!" Karolaina sighed in relief.

Since the exploration began, her team hadn't found any mines or resource points. If the master blamed her, she had no excuse.

Fortunately, the master was understanding.

Sunan, ignoring Karolaina's demeanor, turned to the Red Widow.

"What about your side?"

The Red Widow smiled, "Thanks to you, Master, I've found an iron mine to the west. We're assessing its reserves, but it's at least a medium-sized vein."

Sunan was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "Well done."

"Serving you is my honor."

The Red Widow's smile deepened, casting a fleeting, triumphant glance at Karolaina.

Karolaina noted this, grinding her teeth silently.

Sunan, pretending not to notice their antics, continued, "Anything else?"

"Yes, Master."

The Red Widow quickly added:

"The exploration team also found a minotaur tribe to the south, quite large, with over 500 members. We've attempted some trades, acquiring unrefined gold ore."

Sunan's interest piqued.

Unrefined gold ore suggests the minotaur tribe likely controls a gold mine.

Minotaurs aren't adept at refining. Without dwarves, they can't refine gold ore, leaving it for trade.

"I'm still investigating, but it's likely they control a gold mine," the Red Widow said.

"Excellent." Sunan smiled approvingly, "If the tribe indeed has a gold mine, deploy forces to seize it!"

Adult minotaurs possess combat strength between junior and high-ranking knights.

A tribe of over 500 minotaurs is a significant underground power, and few would dare challenge them, even with a gold mine.

The Star Alliance is an exception.

With its current strength, the Star Alliance can easily eliminate a minotaur tribe.

"Yes, Master." The Red Widow replied respectfully.

After discussing the exploration, Sunan was about to dismiss them when Karolaina handed over a letter.

"Master, a letter from Xieman has arrived."

Sunan understood it likely concerned the new magical plantations.

However, upon reading it, he was surprised.

"A Dusky Drakelands?"

How did an underground-exclusive creature end up on the surface?

Could there be an underground entrance near Ryan City?

Seeing Sunan deep in thought, the Red Widow asked, "Master, what's the matter?"

Sunan didn't reply, handing them the letter to read.

After reading, both women appeared surprised.

"Send someone to Ryan City to bring back the Dusky Drakelands' corpse and investigate its origin. If there's an underground entrance, coordinate with the local lord to seal it and report back."

Sunan quickly issued orders.

A mere underground entrance wouldn't concern him.

The Star Alliance already has many unexplored areas nearby, and he can't spare the resources for a second entrance.

However, if the entrance leads to sub-dragon species, it's a different matter.

Capturing many sub-dragon creatures or finding high-tier sub-dragons could provide blood to accelerate the Hidden Dragon's bloodline enhancement.

That's his real priority.

"Didn't expect to find sub-dragon clues so soon. Hopefully, there's more to discover."

Sunan mused.

If the entrance leads to numerous sub-dragons, he might have to visit personally.

Having served Sunan for some time, Karolaina and the Red Widow knew their master was keen on finding sub-dragons and took his orders seriously.

"Dismissed," Sunan waved them off.

They left with a bow.

Outside the study, Karolaina quickened her pace. Shortly after, the wind rustled behind her as the Red Widow caught up, wearing a teasing smile.

"Why the rush? Off to deal with the swamp and beholder tribes? Or sending someone to Ryan City?"

Karolaina replied expressionlessly, "Don't be smug. This time, you were lucky. Who knows who'll win next time."

"The fact is, I'm ahead now." The Red Widow tapped her lips with a finger, smiling. "One step ahead, always ahead. By the time you deal with the swamp and beholders, I'll have found more mines."

Karolaina's eye twitched as she glared at the Red Widow, then quickened her pace.

She was already one step behind in exploring mines, and she wouldn't let the Red Widow beat her in investigating the Dusky Drakelands. She had to find its origin first.

The Red Widow didn't pursue, watching Karolaina leave with a smirk, then sneered disdainfully.

She knew Karolaina's intentions—to regain ground with the Dusky Drakelands.

But she wouldn't give her the chance.

She intended to stay a step ahead.

The longer she served under Sunan, the more she sensed his power.

As long as Sunan remained, the Star Alliance would grow stronger, its territory expanding until it dominated the underground world.

By securing her position as Sunan's first lieutenant, she'd become a key figure in the underground world once the Star Alliance reigned supreme!

The thought made her feel feverishly excited.

-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/LegendaryTL

Thanks!